Decorative assembly for decorating a thin panel display screen

ABSTRACT

A decorative assembly for decorating a thin panel display screen having a frame is provided. The decorative assembly comprises a decorative frame having a rear surface. In addition, the decorative assembly further comprises a decorative fabric material sleeve affixed to the rear surface of the frame. The fabric material fits over each corner of the thin panel display screen to secure the decorative frame over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame. Lastly, the decorative frame and the decorative fabric material of the decorative assembly each provide a decorative effect to the thin panel display screen to which the decorative frame and the decorative fabric material sleeve are attached.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to decorative assemblies for decorating a thin panel display screen such as an LCD TV screen, a plasma TV screen or a monitor screen. In particular, the present invention relates to a decorative assembly having a decorative frame attached, e.g. adhesively, to a fabric material sleeve, and wherein the fabric member sleeve fits over the corners of the thin panel display screen for connecting the decorative frame over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame, thereby decorating the thin panel display screen frame.

2. The Prior Art

Decorating a thin panel display screens is known in the prior art. For instance U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2002/0096979 A1 to Johnson relates to decorative adjustable electronic equipment and furniture support. In particular, the Johnson publication describes an adjustable, retractable and expandable plastic or cardboard cover frame made of metallic finish to fit around a computer VCR, TV or other electronic equipment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,878 to Morgan et al. relates to protective and decorative computer covers. The Morgan patent describes a covered casing assembly which includes a fabric member made of an elastic material that is stretched over a casing and has at least one opening surrounding an accessible feature of the casing. The fabric member may be in the form of a tube having two openings, one at each end of the openings at each end of the openings at each end of the tube. An aperture adjustment feature is provided for sizing and shaping an aperture in the fabric member.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,644 to Stanley relates a decorative cover for a thin panel display screens having a covering material assembly made of flexible covering material configured to conform to the general size and shape of the forward portion of a thin panel display screen. The cover has an opening through which the thin panel display screen may be directly viewed while the cover is place on the monitor. The cover opening is maintained by a preformed support member made of semi-rigid material, which is attached to the covering material. The cover is held in place on the monitor by securing means comprised of elastic banding and/or hook and loop fastening strips. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,214 to Griffin relates to a device for enhances the appeal of a video terminal. The Griffin patent describes a flexible skirt including an annular fabric body stretchable over a video display screen.

Notwithstanding the above, the prior art lacks a decorative assembly having a decorative frame attached, e.g. adhesively, to a fabric material sleeve, and wherein the fabric member sleeve fits over the corners of the thin panel display screen for connecting the decorative frame over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame, thereby decorating the thin panel display screen frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to provide a decorative assembly, which provides a decorative effect to a thin panel display screen.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a decorative assembly, which is one piece, comprised an elastic fabric sleeve attached to a decorative frame and wherein said sleeve fits over corresponding corners of a thin panel display screen to be decorated.

It is another object of the invention to provide a decorative assembly, which provides a decorative effect to a thin panel display screen and also does not interfere with the viewing of the operating display of the screen.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a decorative assembly, which is easily attachable and removable from the thin panel display screen.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a decorative assembly, which gives the user a range of possible decorative options for decorating their thin panel display screen.

In accordance with the present invention, a decorative assembly for decorating a thin panel display screen having a frame is provided. The decorative assembly comprises a decorative frame having a rear surface. In addition, the decorative assembly further comprises a decorative fabric material sleeve affixed to the rear surface of the frame. The fabric material fits over each corner of the thin panel display screen to secure the decorative frame over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame. Lastly, the decorative frame and the decorative fabric material of the decorative assembly each provide a decorative effect to the thin panel display screen to which the decorative frame and the decorative fabric material sleeve are attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a prior art screen;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of a thin panel display screen decorated with the decorative assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along lines 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a frontal view of a thin panel display screen decorated with the decorative assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a frontal view of a thin panel display screen decorated with the decorative assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 along lines 11-11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 represents a standard thin panel display screen in the prior art with no decorative effect or appearance added thereto. The present invention seeks to provide a decorative appearance to a thin panel display screen via decorative assembly.

Specifically, the decorative assembly 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 2-8. The decorative assembly is a single piece which includes a decorative frame 12, preferably of rigid material and a fabric material sleeve 14 attached to the decorative frame 12. The decorative frame 12 of the first embodiment of the present invention as depicted in FIGS. 2-8, is in the shape of a square. It is noted however that the decorative frame 12 is not limited to a square shape and may be of any shape to fit onto a least a portion of a conventional thin panel display screen 11 to decorate the same. The decorative frame 12 may provide the decorative effect via the color, material of the decorative frame 12, e.g. wood, plastic or the design placed or painted thereon by means known in the art.

The decorative frame 12 is formed by four-frame elements formed integral with one another to form the square shape of the screen 11. Frame 12 has a front surface 16 and a rear surface 18. Attached to the rear surface of the frame 12 is fabric material sleeve 14. The fabric material sleeve 14 is preferably comprised of elastic material, the like, or other material, which will also accomplish the objectives of the present invention. The fabric material sleeve 14 is preferably glued or adhesively attached to the rear surface 18 of the decorative frame 12 substantially around the entire rear surface 18 of the frame 12. Moreover, fabric material sleeve 14 is shaped according to the dimensions of the decorative frame 12 so that when attached to the decorative frame 12 the fabric material sleeve 14 only attaches around the rear surface 18 of the decorative frame 12 but does not to contain any material in the center so it does not block or interfere with the viewing of the operating display 13 of the thin panel display screen 11.

Further, as best shown in FIGS. 3-5, a portion 22 of the attached fabric material sleeve 14 is folded and stitched along substantially the entire length of the fabric material sleeve 14 to create four separate attaching pockets 26, one pocket 26 protruding from each corner of the rear surface 18 of the frame 12. Each of these pockets 26 are designed to fit over a corresponding corner of the thin panel display screen 11 in order to attach the decorative frame 12 over at least a portion of the frame of a thin panel display screen 11.

It is also noted that in addition to the decorative frame 12 providing a decorative effect, fabric material sleeve 14 may also provide a decorative effect to the thin panel display screen 11. In this regard, the fabric material sleeve 14 may be of different colors, have design patterns painted or placed thereon by any means known in the art.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 6-8, the decorative assembly 10 further includes a support member 28, preferably a rubber string, which is inserted into the folded stitched portion 22 of the fabric material sleeve 14. The support member 28 is looped inside the stitched portion 22 along substantially the entire fabric material sleeve 14 to keep the fabric material sleeve 14 secure around the thin panel display screen 11. By way of illustration, it is noted that the fabric material sleeve 14 is secured over the corners of the thin panel display screen 11 in very analogous manner to placing a sheet cover over the corners of the mattress of a bed.

In using the decorative assembly of the first embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2-8, one would first choose the type of decorative frame 12 and fabric material sleeve 14 combination they desired to place on a particular thin panel display screen 11. One this decision is made, the user would pull each corner pocket 26 of the fabric material sleeve 14 over each corresponding corner of the thin panel display screen 11 in order to affix the decorative frame 12 over at least a portion of the thin panel display screen frame.

FIG. 9 depicts a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that instead of the decorative frame 112 being a perfect square shape, the decorative frame 112 has ridges thereon. This embodiment shows that other shapes for the decorative frame are within the scope of the present invention. This embodiment would accordingly be used in exactly the same manner as the first embodiment.

FIGS. 10-11 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention, which is virtually identical to the above first two embodiments. The only difference is that in the third embodiment the decorative frame 212 is transparent with a decorative insert 213 placed between the rear surface 215 of the decorative frame 212 and the thin panel display screen 216. The insert 213 can be for instance a laminate or the like. The insert 213 can be painted, laminated and be any color. Except for the insert 215, the third embodiment is used in substantially the same way as the first two embodiments of the present invention.

The particular embodiment described above is not meant to be exclusive. Many other variations of the present invention would be obvious to those skilled in the art, and are contemplated to be within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A decorative assembly for decorating a thin panel display screen having a frame comprising: a decorative frame having a rear surface; a decorative fabric material sleeve affixed to the rear surface of said frame, said fabric material fits over each corner of the thin panel display screen to secure said decorative frame over at least a portion of said thin panel display screen frame; and whereby said decorative frame and said decorative fabric material of said decorative assembly each provides a decorative effect to the thin panel display screen to which said decorative frame and decorative fabric material sleeve are attached.
 2. The decorative assembly of claim 1, wherein said decorative frame is transparent.
 3. The decorative assembly of claim 2, further comprising a decorative insert located between said rear surface of said transparent frame and said thin panel display screen.
 4. The decorative assembly of claim 1, further comprising a support member inserted within said fabric material sleeve for securing said fabric material sleeve around said thin panel display screen.
 5. The decorative assembly of claim 1, wherein said support member is a rubber string.
 6. The decorative assembly of claim 1, wherein said decorative fabric material sleeve is comprised of elastic material.
 7. The decorative assembly of claim 1, wherein said fabric material sleeve is adhesively affixed to said rear surface of said decorative frame.
 8. The decorative assembly of claim 2, wherein said decorative frame is colored green.
 9. The decorative assembly of claim 1, wherein said decorative frame has a decorative pattern thereon.
 10. The decorative assembly of claim 1, wherein said fabric material sleeve has a decorative pattern thereon.
 11. The decorative assembly of claim 3, wherein said decorative insert is a laminate with a design on said laminate.
 12. A decorative assembly for decorating a thin panel display screen having a frame comprising: a decorative frame having a rear surface; a fabric material sleeve, said fabric material sleeve is attached to the rear surface of the decorative frame substantially around the entire rear surface of the frame, said fabric material sleeve is shaped according to the dimensions of the decorative frame so that when attached to the decorative frame the fabric material sleeve only attaches around the rear surface of the decorative frame but does not to contain any material in its center so said fabric material sleeve does not block or interfere with the viewing of an operating display of the thin panel display screen, said fabric material sleeve having a portion which is folded and stitched along substantially the entire length of the fabric material to create four separate attaching pockets at respective corners of the rear surface of the decorative frame, each of said attaching pockets designed to fit over a corresponding corner of the thin panel display screen in order to attach the decorative frame over at least a portion of the frame of a thin panel display screen; a support member, said support member is inserted into the folded stitched portion of the fabric material, said support member is looped inside the stitched portion along substantially the entire fabric material to keep the fabric material secure around the thin panel display screen; and whereby said decorative frame and said decorative fabric material of said decorative assembly provides a decorative effect to the thin panel display screen to which said decorative frame and decorative fabric material sleeve are attached.
 13. The decorative assembly of claim 12, wherein said decorative frame is transparent.
 14. The decorative assembly of claim 13, further comprising a decorative insert located between said rear surface of said transparent frame and said thin panel display screen.
 15. The decorative assembly of claim 12, wherein said support member is a rubber string.
 16. The decorative assembly of claim 12, wherein said decorative fabric material is comprised of elastic material.
 17. The decorative assembly of claim 12, wherein said fabric material sleeve is adhesively affixed to said rear surface of said decorative frame.
 18. The decorative assembly of claim 12, wherein said decorative frame has a decorative pattern thereon.
 20. A method of using a decorative assembly to decorative a thin panel display screen having a frame comprising the steps of selecting a thin panel display screen to decorate; attaching the fabric material sleeve having said decorative frame affixed thereto over each corner of said thin panel display screen for connecting at least a portion of the decorative frame over the frame of the thin panel display screen; and optionally providing further decoration, if desired to the decorative frame. 